diff --git a/compat/mingw.c b/compat/mingw.c
index 24ef6ee0aa..900afce781 100644
--- a/compat/mingw.c
+++ b/compat/mingw.c
@@ -836,11 +836,6 @@ static const char *parse_interpreter(const char *cmd)
 	char *p, *opt;
 	int n, fd;
 
-	/* don't even try a .exe */
-	n = strlen(cmd);
-	if (n >= 4 && !strcasecmp(cmd+n-4, ".exe"))
-		return NULL;
-
 	fd = open(cmd, O_RDONLY);
 	if (fd < 0)
 		return NULL;